Mig welder shopping

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I have some birthday money left and am thinking of getting a mig welder. I've got a buzz box but it's just not the same. Considering selling the stick and investing in a mig. For now I will just have to flux core until I can afford a tank.Requirements: (comments welcome)220volt - I don't mind a 110, but always hear to get the 220. I learned on a lincoln 130 and enjoyed it. Lincoln, Hobart, Miller brands (others??)Not sure if I should shop for a used one. If I am looking for a new one, what are the top three sites I should keep an eye on for good deals?Thank youLast edited by chaznsc; 08-24-2014 at 02:39 PM.
Reply:Hobart 210mvp or the tweco fabricator machinesTorchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleHobart 210mvp or the tweco fabricator machines
Reply:Yes, keep the stick welder. It will handle thicker metal than the MIG and allow you to weld different metals without having to buy large rolls of wire and tanks of gas.Lincoln, Miller, Hobart, Tweco, ESAB. Save your $$ for a good one and avoid the cheapo off brand welders.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:Soooooo.... If I keep the stick would I need a 220 mig?
Reply:No. You can have 2 different receptacles for them.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:''  If I keep the stick would I need a 220 mig? ''  Most definitely get a 220 volt mig. The Miller 211 and Hobart 210 as mention should take care of your needs. KEEP THE STICK MACHINE TOO !!
Reply:Which one of these two?Lincoln Easy Mig 180http://www.farmandfleet.com/products...l#.U_sy52Pp98EHobart 190http://www.farmandfleet.com/products...l#.U_szHWPp98E
Reply:The Hobart handler 190 is a very good unit.  (It's a Handler 187 with the spool gun control circuitry built-in.)  Hobart has good support, too.I don't about the current crop of Lincoln 180s. I have a Lincoln SP-175+, which has continuous voltage control.  Good unit but more expensive than the tapped ones."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I've got a Miller 210 and I love it. I would say you're not going to go wrong with any of the machines mentioned already. And another vote for keeping the stick machine."You cannot inspect quality into a product, it must be manufactured into the product."Millermatic 210Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC Blue-Point (Smith) O/A
Reply:I am curious as to why I should keep the stick?
Reply:You can weld much thicker metal with a 225 amp stick than you can with that sized MIG.Stick is also more versatile without as much expense.  Example:  You can weld stainless just by buying the right rods instead of buying wire and 100% argon.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:Originally Posted by chaznscI am curious as to why I should keep the stick?
Reply:I'm just a hobbyist who does repairs on the mower, etc. and I have had a Miller Challenger 172 for the last 12 years or so.  If I had to buy one today, I would look hard at the Hobart 210 as mentioned above, probably at Tractor Supply.
Reply:I guess I get confused when I hear: "Buy the 220 welder, but the stick will weld much thicker material.", then someone who uses theirs on mowers wanting a 220 volt welder. If I am welding a 3/16 angle iron frame using XX amps and YY wire speed isnt the weld the same regardless if the input power?Just trying to understand what the market for the 110v welders is.
Reply:I'll chime in a little here... A 220v machine will run much more efficient and clean than a unit trying to run the same amount of amps using half the input power (110v). this is why most prefer 220v but if you need portability or do not have 220v where you need to use the welder (say at your buddies house or something) a 110v flux machine will be the least picky about power supply demands.Now the part about all welders being on an equal playing field when set at the same amperage is not that simple.. I'll try to make this easy to fallow without being long winded!!First... Anything with flux will produce a hotter (puddle) than gas shielding because you have more heat that lingers at the weld puddle before it cools down, this makes the steel maintain a higher temp which = more penetration.Second... Gas mig uses the wire it's self to initiate the arc and burn the steel, at this point you are limited on time spent in a single spot (not drastically). This means the weld cools off much faster than SMAW (stick).Third... SMAW uses the ark produced between the electrode and the (work) to melt the steel and the electrode at the same time producing a (slower) weld which produces more heat and penetration, also with SMAW you can control the time spent in a single spot with arc length and speed of material being fed into the weld pool. That's why structural welds are done with stick electrodes + they aren't too picky about cleanliness!I won't discuss tig since were on a mig weld post but there are similarities to SMAW. minus the flux.Hopefully this helps lay out the concept. It gets way deeper but that's for another discussion!Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:^^ Thank you...
Reply:Get the biggest damn wire machine you can a afford, better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I have a Hobart 230 and love it. I don't crank it up past tap 6 very often but I just spent a good while with it at tap 8 while building a 3/8 wall smoker and was glad to have it and not worry about a duty cycle.